Miles Ever After (Miles High Series)(55)

He would have been fine and he would have excelled in whatever he did, he has that deep kind of resilience that can’t be taught. But I’m so glad that he doesn’t have to be anymore. He can be soft and vulnerable and just loved for who he is.

He can choose whatever path in life that he wants to.

“Don’t get drunk,” I remind Christopher. “We have the dinner tonight, remember?”

“I know.”

“Yeah, you always say you know, but whenever you get with your brothers something snaps in your brain.”

He smirks. “Because they are fucking alcoholics, that’s why. They peer group pressure me.”

I giggle. “Sure they do, you’re the worst out of all of them.”

“See you in a few hours.” I watch him get into his old beat-up truck and pull out down the driveway, I smile as he disappears. So much has changed, I remember the first time he came here and was so mortified by the red utility I made him hire. Now he prefers the older beat-up cars, he reckons they make him feel tougher.

I don’t know who he is kidding, he could never be tough on the land.

Even our cats boss him around, he’s the softy with the huge heart.

I hear a sound in the distance and look over to see Eddie on the tractor following my father down to the far paddock.

Where are they going now?

“There is no time to fix fences today, boys, we have a wedding to organize.”

I walk into the house, take the stairs, unzip the garment bag as it hangs on the back of the door and stare lovingly at the most beautiful wedding dress I have ever seen.

My heart skips a beat.

I’m getting married tomorrow.





Christopher


We all hold our drinks together for a toast. “To Hayden.” Jameson smiles.

“To Hayden,” we all repeat.

“Can you believe it?” I smirk. “How the fuck did I talk her into marrying me, I will never know.”

“Me neither,” Tristan agrees. “Poor bitch should run while she can.”

Elliot chuckles. “Just hurry up and get the ring on so she can’t back out.”

We collectively take a sip of our customary Blue Label scotch. “This is a weird day, isn’t it?” I ask them.

“How so?”

“Well, I’m the last of us to get married.”

“The end of an era.” Jameson nods, almost sadly.

“It is,” we all agree as we fall pensive.

“And not one of us married the kind of girl we thought we would,” Tristan replies.

“I did.” Elliot smiles wistfully. “I married my dream girl.”

Jameson rolls his eyes. “You’re fucking pathetic, you know that? You didn’t even know she painted those paintings.”

“But she did.” Elliot smirks as he holds up his glass in a toast. “But she did. Her art was in my heart.”

They all groan in disgust.

“Like I said, pathetic.” Jameson curls his lip. “And for the record, if Harvey calls me boy tonight, I’m knocking him out,” he adds.

Tristan chuckles. “Please do, I would pay good money to see him kick your ass.”

“I’d like to see that,” I reply. “He could kill you with his eyes closed.”

“Don’t doubt it,” Elliot agrees. “He is one tough motherfucker.”

“So what’s next for the Miles brothers?” Elliot asks. “What happens from here?”

“We watch our kids grow up and take over,” Jameson replies with a shrug.

“Miles, the Next Generation.” I smile sadly. “The end of an era.” I put my hand over my heart. “Don’t, it’s making me sad. I don’t want our stories to be over, I want to stay here forever.”

Jameson fills our glasses again.

“I’m not allowed to get drunk,” I say. “I’ve been warned.”

“Fuck off.” He fills my glass to the top. “You’re not married yet.” He raises his glass for another toast. We all smile, his toasts have always been legendary and as we get older we somehow appreciate them more, we put our glasses up to his.

“To the next generation of Miles’s, may they live greater, faster, harder, and fuck like demons.”

Tristan snorts his drink up his nose. “And for my girls to be virgins forever so that I don’t have to kill anybody.”

“That too.” Elliot nods.

We all chuckle as we toast the closing of an era and the opening of another, to hopes and dreams and fantasies coming true.

“To the next generation of Miles’s.”





Hayden


We sit out in the garden under a canopy of fairy lights, music is playing and we are all relaxing and on the wind-down for the big day tomorrow, the dinner has been perfect. Great food, great company, wonderful families coming together.

Unsurprisingly, the boys were tipsier than they’d promised to be, hilarious as usual, I swear when these four get together they grow another brain. Sarcasm and wit is their only language.

Dessert has been served and I walk around and collect some plates.

Laughter is loud as all the kids chatter and talk between themselves.